The Ones: J.I.D’s “Off Da Zoinkys”

With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.

J.I.D - “Off Da Zoinkys”

There’s no harder feat in hip-hop than getting the increasingly crowded spotlight all to yourself. Atlanta rapper J.I.D accomplishes this feat simply by releasing his latest project, DiCaprio 2, on a Monday instead of the usual Friday. This strategy for getting DiCaprio 2 attention works in favor of J.I.D, who has graduated from a rap robot aimlessly showing off his exceptional skill to a full-fledged artist who uses his gifts as a technical emcee to make great songs.

On “Off Da Zoinkys,” J.I.D spits about the effect drugs have had on him, his environment, and the rap game. He raps about drugs in a way that isn’t preachy, or that shames users. Instead, he looks for answers: “My blood need to lay off the drugs/Yeah God, they ain’t praying enough/Niggas dying, we ain’t saying enough.” The production on the track feels like it belongs in a church, drenched with a gospel vocal sample, and keys that could usher in a Sunday morning service. And J.I.D slows down his pace, not in his usual rapid-fire flow, instead carefully stringing his bars together. The song is a sign of growth, for an artist whose sound is finally catching up with his talent.